Premier League: Acid test for Postecoglou’s Tottenham in North London Derby

Sunday provides the first North London Derby of the 2024/25 Premier League season, as Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur host old rivals Arsenal.

It’s been a mixed bag from Spurs at the start of this campaign, with a draw at Leicester City followed by a comprehensive win at home to Everton and a defeat at Newcastle United.

Tottenham’s biggest test of the season so far comes on Sunday and this match will provide many clues on how this current Spurs side really matches up against one of the best teams in the country in Arsenal.

. What: Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal
. Where: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
. When: 23:00 (AEST), Sunday 15th September
. How to watch: Optus Sport
. Odds: Tottenham Hotspur 3.20, Arsenal 2.20

Spurs must show progress

With just one win in their last seven meetings with Arsenal in the Premier League, it’s fair to say the red half of north London has been having the better of things in recent years.

Postecoglou was brought down from Scottish champions Celtic to help Spurs bridge the gap to Mikel Arteta’s side, who have finished runners-up in the Premier League for the last two seasons.

The Australian’s first taste of the NLD last term was a 2-2 draw at Arsenal in September last year, before his side suffered a 3-2 defeat on home soil back in April.

Spurs have shown they can hold their own against the Gunners and a draw at the weekend is available at 3.50.

However, on home soil, Spurs will look to try and take the game to Arsenal, with the host available at 3.20 to come away from Sunday’s game with the three points and the bragging rights.

Gunners handed double blow

Arsenal fans will have been left grimacing at the events at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo, as Gunners captain Martin Odegaard left the field in Norway’s 2-1 Nations League win over Austria.

A painful sprain has been the early prognosis but it seems highly unlikely that Odegaard will be available for Sunday’s short trip to Tottenham.

The Norwegian’s absence will be felt by Arteta and his side, with the former Real Madrid midfielder a talisman for the Gunners.

Odegaard’s absence compounds the loss of England midfielder Declan Rice, who was shown a soft red card in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion last time out.

Already on a yellow card in the game, Rice tapped away the ball after a free-kick was issued and was handed his marching orders at the Emirates.

Arteta will have some big decisions to make on selection and tactics without Rice and Odegaard in the middle of the park for the Gunners, who are the favourites at 2.20 to come away from Sunday’s encounter with the spoils.